Hydrostatic pump



Jan. 3, 1933. F. D. PAGLlucHl HYDROSTATIC PUMP Filedv Dec. l5, 1951 gm//l/l/l//ll/llllll/df Patented Jan. 3, 1933 weine 'r *Irion FRANK D. PAGLIUCHI, OF NEW YCEK, N. Y.

'l HYDROSTATIC PUMP Application filed 1Dccem`r1er'15,` 19.3 I. Serial No. 581,254.

M resent invention, relates to improvementsin pumps of the character as disclosed in my United States Patent' No. 1,016,768 P adapted for-use in eleva ving liquids, it has for its object primarily to provide an 1m-V proved pump of this character wherein the liquid may be elevated by the expenditure of a relatively small amount of external power, the hydrostatic head of the liquid contained in the discharge column being approximately balanced by the liquid contained in the working column so as to enableit to obtain the greatest efficiency in discharging the amount.

of liquid delivered from the discharge column at each working stroke of the pump.

Another object of the inventionis to provide an improvedpump of this character wherein'V the lower end of the discharge column is provided with branches -which communicate respectively with piston surfaces of dierent areas on a pump element,

the said branches being connected to the discharge column by means of a. conduit or other y appropriate union whereby the liquid passa ing therethrough from one of the piston surfaces will enter the discharge column to be delivered to the surface.

A further object of the invention is toprovide an improved pump of;V this character which embodies a pair of columns, the hydrostatic head of one column slightlyoverbalancing that in the other column, and these columns are arranged to act alternately upon a pumping element which ma f .be located at substantially the level of the liquid to be pumped, these columns being adapted to serve alternately, as liquid discharges and as power mediums, by means of which the pumping element is operated.`

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvement, and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel r features being pointed out Vparticularly in the claims at the end of the specification. v ln the accompanying drawing, l have shown a vertical section ofv a hydrostatic pump constructed in accordance with my present invention. v I

Hydrostatic pumps constructed in accordance with the present invention are capable of use generally in elevating liquids of various kinds, it being especially useful in the eleva;-Y tion of liquids from relatively low points, 'such as mines, high buildings, wells and the like, to the level of the ground or to any otherf desired point. ln the accompanying draw ing, l have shown one embodiment of the plump as an example, it being understood that certain modifications or changes may be made therein in order that the invention may be applied to the best advantage according to the circumstances-of each particular case, as in some cases the pump maybe' used for lift? ing water or liquid from the bottom of a well or mine while in other cases, it may be used for elevating water from the ground to the upper portion of buildings and, indeed, the pump is capable of use for various purposes wherein it is necessary or desirable to elevatel liquid to a considerable height. In that form of the invention shown in the present instance, the apparatus comprises generally a liquid discharge Vcolumn l which may extend from the bottom of la well or mine to the surface of thejground or toa suitable distance above the same where it is provided with a suitable discharge, and a second liquid containing column 2, which may be of appropriate height in proportion to that of the discharge column. A

Any appropriate pumping mechanism may be employed which is acted uponl by the hydrostatic pressure in these two columns, a cylinder 3 being'shown in the Vpresent in-V stance having heads l and 5 which close the oppositeends thereof. The lower end of the column 2 leads directlyv through the head 4 into the space at one end ofthe cylinder While the head 5 is provided with a lflange 'or the like to which is suitably attached a 'supplemental cylinder 6. A piston 7 is mounted to operate longitudinally within the larger cylinder and maybe packedwithsuitable washers or rin'gsin order to effect a fluidtight fit between this piston and the walls of its cooperating cylinder. The piston 7 lis, provided with a relatively smaller ,rod 8 whi ch passes through the head 5 with a fluidtight lit, a pair of stuhng-box'es being shown suction pipe 18 also enters tively larger piston at the opposite sides of the head 5 to effect this i'esult. This rod 8 is connected to a relatively smaller piston 9V which operates within the smaller cylinder 6. The out-er` or left hand end of the supplemental cylinder 6 is connected to the bottom or lower portion of the discharge column by means of a three-way valve 10 which may be of anysuitable construction, that shown in the present instance having a rotatable plug 11 therein which is connected to an operating crank or arm 12, One side of this three-way valve is connected as previously stated. to an end of the supplemental cylinder 6 while its opposite side is connectedby means of a fitting 13 to the bottom or lower portion of the dischargeV column, this three-way valve'also having a portwliich communicates with a waste-pipe I, 14. The fitting 13 which connects the three-V way valve to the discharge column is also connected to a branch pipe 15 which leads thereto at a suitable` angle, this branch pipe communicating with the discharge side of the relatively larger piston 7 through a check or non-return valve 16 and the passage 1T which in the present instance is in the Jform of a compound curve and leads through the head 5 of the cylinder Thispassage just described and the check or non-return valve 16 permits a discharge of liquid from the larger cylinder into the discharge column, but prevents a return flow of the liquid from the discharge column into the larger cylinder. A the discharge side of the larger cylinder 3, it being provided with a check or non-return valve 19 whereby liquid isl permitted to flow upwardlythrough this suction pipe into the larger cylinder during one stroke of the piston thereof, and such liquid is prevented from flowing back into the suction pipe during the power stroke of thejsaid piston.

' The hydrostatic head of the liquid in the column 2 acts upon the rear side of the relaliead of the liquid in the column 1 acts upon the relatively smaller piston@ in the supplemental cylinder, and it is generally preferable to extend the discharge pipe 1 a suitable distance in excess of the head of the column 2in order that the additional hydrostatic head thus attained will act with sucient force upon the relatively smaller piston 9 to overcome the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid in the column 2 and the friction of the pistons and -theieby effect automatically the return stroke of the pumping element. The power strolre of the pumping element, however, is effected by applying external power f to the liquid in the column 2 whereby the hydrostatic head thereof is increased simiciently to overbalance the hydrostatic head in the discharge column. ln the present instance, a plunger 2O is shown which operates in a cylinder that is located or formed 7, while the vhydrostatic in the upper portion of the column 2, this plunger having a central air passage 21 which upon th-e power stroke of the plunger is closed a check-valve 22, this check-valve however being freely opened upon the return stroke of the plunger. The purpose of providing this check-valve is to insure the presence of a body of air within the plunger and the-top of the liquid contained in the column 2so that the plunger is capable of an accelerating motion whereby a relatively high velocity is attained, the momentum of which is delivered as an impact upon the liquid in said column. This plunger may be op-erated'in any suitable way such, for instance as by means of an appropriate motor 28, that shown being in the form of a steam or lluid pressure cylinder to which motive power may be suppliedA from any suitable source. The upper end of the cylinder in which the plunger 2O operates is open to the atmosphere as shown in order to admit air to this plunger as may be necessary from time to time. By depressing the plunger, the liquid in the column 2 is discharged -into the relatively larger cylinder 3, acting upon the' relatively large area of the piston therein and forcing the pumping element to the left. The piston within the cylinder 28 in the present instance is provided with a rod 24 carrying an actuating arm 25 which is arranged to alternately engage the upper and lower stops 26 arranged on a valve-actuating rod 27, theV latter being connected in a suitable way to a three-way valve 28,this three-way valve being connected to a steam or motive fluid supply pipe 29 which leads to a cylinder 30. This cylinder and its cooperating mechanism serves in the present instance as an example of a device for automatically ac. tuating the three-way valvel 10 at the proper intervals, the supply pipe 29 in this form of the invention .leading into they lower portion of the cylinder 30 which cylinder contains a reciprocatory p-istoii 31 which is normally acted upon by a compression spring 32 which tends to force it outwardly, the rod 33 of this piston being suitably connected to the operating arm 12 ot the three-way valve 10. The three-way valve 28 is provided with an exhaust port 34: located at an appropriate point. TWhen the plunger 2O is depressed, as previ.- ously stated, the arm 25 connected .to the piston rod ofthe motor will operate upon the lower stop 26 to depress the rod 27 and there-- by turn the 'valve 28 in a direction to admit steam or `motive fluid into the cylinder 30 so as to act upon the under side of the piston 31 therein. T he piston 31 will be thereby operated in adirection to turn the three-waysimultaneously with the piston in the mainV cylinder, the liquid contained in the supplemental cylinder will be discharged into the waste-pipe. Vhen the pumping element has reached the limit of its power stroke, the

`plunger 20 is lifted, thereby relieving the excess in hydrostatic pressure in the column 2, and at the same time closing the three-way valve 28, communication between the supplemental cylinder 6 and the waste-pipe being thereby interrupted owing to the change in the position of the valve 10, and this adjustment of the valve 10 serves to establish com-V munication between this supplemental cylinder 6 and the column 1, the liquid in this column therebydescending in order to resume its state of equilibrium due to theexcess of hydrostatic head which it possessesV and, in

so descending, it Will act upon the piston 9 in the supplemental cylinder therebyV effecting automatically the return stroke of the pumping element and during this return stroke of said element, a fresh supply of liquid is intro.- f duced into the main cylinder 3 throughthe suction pipe, the check-valve 16 at this time cutting ofi1 communication between the discharge column and the main cylinder.

Assuming the plunger 2O to be 'on its ascending movement, the valve 22 therein opens, thereby releasing i the compressionk caused by the impact of the plunger on its down stroke and at the same time the threeway valve 28 is turned in a direction to cut off the supply ofl steam or motive iuid through the pipe 29 to the cylinder 30, and a vent to the atmosphere is provid-ed for the steam or motive fiuid contained in said cyll inder, the spring 32 acting to return the piston 31 to its former position, the three-way valve 10 being thereby returned to a posit-ion to re-establish communication between the supplemental cylinder 6 andthe discharge column. This column having a greater hydrostatic head than the column 2 acts upon the -piston 9' and thereby causes both pistons to return toward the right hand position, the partial vacuuni formed in the rear of ther'elati'velylarger piston 7 serving tc draw a fresh charge of liquid into the main cylinder through the suction pipe. Then the plunger reaches the end of its stroke, it automatically reverses the position of the three-way valve 28, supplying steam and motive fluid to the cylinder 30 and causing the three-way valve 10v to turn in a direction todisconnect the supplemental cylinder 6 from the discharge column and 20, the valve 22 closes, and the air contained in the space between it and the top of the liquid in thel column 2 is compressed and acts as a cushion to the plunger. The momentum imparted by the plunger, plus the hydrostatic head of the liquid in the Vcolumn 2, being in excess ofthe Apressure in the column 1, it follows that the liquid taken into the main cylinder will beV discharged to the surface through the discharge column.

Claims: y 1

1. A hydrostatic pump comprising pipes to contain columns of liquid, a pumping element having means for connecting it to both of said pipes and also having aliquid inlet,

means for producing an overbalance of hydrostatic head in the column ofv liquid in one pipe to produce a stroke of the pumping i element and create an overbalance ofhydrostatic pressure in the column'of liquid in the other pipe, the vlatter serving as a discharge pipe, andk means forpermittmg the liquid so overbalanced to act upon the pumping ele- -ment during its'ret'urn stroke and for establishing communication betweenfsaid column and the pumping element during the power stroke ofthe latter. c

2. A hydrostatic pump comprising apair of pipes to contain columns of liquid, a pumping element embodyinga liquid inlet, a piston adapted to be acted upon by the hydrostatic pressure of the column of liquid in one pipe which serves as a discharge pipe, and a piston of relatively larger surface to be acted on by the hydrostatic pressure of the columnV of liquid, in the other pipe, means for iiicreasing the hydrostatic pressure of thel column of liquid in the pipe which acts on the relatively larger piston, and means for ,establishing communication between the vrelatively smaller piston and its respective column to effect the return stroke Vof the pumping element and for interrupting said communication during the power stroke ofthe pumping element.

3. vA hydrostaticpump comprising a pair of pipes adapted to containV hydrostatic columns of different heights, the longerv column having a discharge permanently open to the atmosphere, a pumping element having a liquid inlet, a relatively small piston area to be:

nol

acted on by the hydrostatic pressure inthe longer column and having a relatively larger piston. area to be acted on by the hydrostatic pressure in the shorter column, means for cverbalancing by` impact the hydrostatic Vpressure in theshorter column with reference to that in the longer `column to effect a power stroke ofthe pumping element, and means for interrupting communication between the longer column Vand the smaller piston during such power stroke and for establishing Y' communication between said smaller piston and its respective column to effect the return stroke of the pumpingv ele-` ment. 1

4. A hydrostatic pump comprising a pair of pipes to contain hydrostatic columns, one havingl a discharge, a pumping element adapted to be acted upon by the hydrostatic pressure of both columns, said element having a liquid inlet, a device capable of acting by impact upon one of said columns to produce an overbalance in hydrostatic pressure therein to cause the power stroke of the pumping element, and means for interrupting communication between the other column and the pumping element during such impact and for establishing communication between such parts subsequently thereto to e'iect the return stroke of the pumping element.

5. A hydrostatic pump comprising a reciprocatory pumping element provided with a liquid inlet and plurality ci" piston surfaces, a. discharge column adapted to contain a liquid and a connection provided with a. branch passage which establishes communication between one oi said piston surfaces and said column and having a second branch passa-ge which leads from another piston surface on tl e pumping element into the branch passage first mentioned, a non-return valve for permitting a flow ot liquid in one direction only through said second branch passage while the pumping element is moving in one direction, a valve operative to permit a flow of liquid from said column through the branch passage first mentioned and to act on said pumping element to produce a return stroke thereof, and means for eecting the power strokes of the pumping element.

(i. A hydrostatic pump comprising a pair of cylinders of diierent diameters, a pumping element embodying a liquid inlet and pair of pistons connected together to operate in the respective cylinders, a discharge column to contain a liquid which is adapted to act hydrostatically on the smaller piston, a discharge pipe leading from the discharge side ot said larger cylinder into said column and having a non-return valve therein, means to act on said pumping element to drive it on its power stroke and thereby effect a discharge of liquid from the larger cylinder and through said discharge pipe and into the column, and a valve controlling communication between the sin aller cylinder and said column for permitting the liquid in said column to act hydrostatically on the smaller piston to effect the return stroke oiE the pumping element.

7. A hydrostatic pump comprising a liquid receiving and discharging cylinder having a piston to operate therein, a relatively smaller cylinder, a piston connected to the piston first mentioned and arranged-to operate in the smaller cylinder, a column adapted tofcontain a liquid, a three-way valve :for

establishing communication alternately between said column and the smaller cylinder during the reciprocating movements, a liquid discharge pipe leading from the liquid receiving and discharging cylinder into said column and provided with a non-return valve, and means 'for effecting the power strokes of said pistons.

8. yA hydrostatic pump comprising a pair of pipes adapted to contain columns of liquid, one of said columns serving as a power medium and the pipe containing the other column being of greater height and provided with a discharge serving as a discharge medium, a pumping element having a liquid inlet and means for establishing communication between it and said columns, a three-way valve for alternately establishing communication between the pumping element and the higher of said columns to effect movements of the pumping element in one direction, an d a plunger mounted in the short pipe having a relief valve and also having a body of air interposed between it and the surface of the liquid contained therein, said plunger being adapted to produce an impact upon the liquid in the shorter pipe which is transmitted to the pumping element to produce the power stroke thereof which in turn will lift the liquid contained in the discharge pipe, the fallingy of the liquid in the discharge pipe causing an overbalanceof hydrostatic pressure in said pipe which will effect the return stroke or" the pumping element.

9. A hydrostatic pump comprising a pair of pipes adapted to contain columns of liquid, one of said columns serving as a power medium, and the pipe containing the other column being of greater height and serving as a discharging means, a pumping element havingmeans for establishing communication between it and said columns, valve means for alternately establishing communication between the pumping element and the discharge means, said pumping element having a liquid inlet provided with a return flow check-valve, a plunger mounted on the pipe having the shorter of said columns and said plunger having a relief valve, and means Connected with said valve means and plunger to operate them in timed accord, the proision and arrangement being such, that upon the downward stroke of said plunger the piston element will be operated causing liquid to be discharged from said discharge means, and the column in said discharge means serving to cause the return operation of said pumping element.

10. 1n a hydrostatic pump, a pipe adapted Y to contain a column of liquidy and serving as a discharge means, a pumpingelement having a. connection establishing communication between it and said discharge means, a relief pipe, a three-way valve in communication with said connection and relief pipe,

said pumping element having a liquid inlet rovided With a return How check-Valve a 1 second connection establishing communication between said discharge means and said pumping element and provided' with a return flow check-Valve, and means to operate said Valve to alternately establish communi- .be operated to discharge liquid from said discharge means, and the return operation y of said pumping element being caused by said column of liquid.

FRANK D. PAGLICHI. 

